Family Fun on Lake Ada

Looking for a good time? I think we found it on Lake Ada!
Uncle Goggy (Grant) was thrilled to be able to get out the zip sled for the kids to ride. It was as old as he was.... almost! hehehehehehe As a matter of face, the rope broke on the handle!
Auntie Heather and Logan, Reagan, and Lexi reading the older lake books we have made over the years. They are a treasure of good memories!
Our old tube died this year so Papa found a new one. It is called SUPER MABLE! It was a HUGE hit!
Mexican Train was the game of choice this year at the lake. It was a good game for the young and the "old"! It could get rather cut throat at times!
My brother Matt, his wife Tami and their youngest, Mia were unable to join us for our time at the lake due to work obligations but we got to see them the night before we left for the lake. Little Mia seemed to really take to Helaina! She kept wanting her to pick her up!
Red White and Blue.... we love you! We celebrated the good old Stars and Stripes and honored all those have served or are serving in the military. Logan was so proud to wear his fatigues that he got at the Navy exchange with his big brother Nick. Nick is now in Pensacola, FL and doing very well.
Mike has always been proud of his children but his cup seems to be running over lately with all of their wonderfulness. All the kids seem to be doing VERY well!

We decorated everything in red white and blue... including the dock, the trees, and sometimes.... each other!
Even the youngest got into the action! Go Reagan!
The American Flag flies everyday on my parents dock. My dad takes very good care of her and abides by all flag traditions. She does NOT fly after dark!

All the kids made some memories for the Grandparents with stepping stones. They were all left behind so each year the kids can come back and see them and Nana and Papa can have an everyday reminder of their wonderful grandkids!
The kids were very creative and none of them were the same!
Each of the kids got decked out in pirate tattoos in preparation for "Talk like a Pirate Day"




Welcome to "Talk like a Pirate Day"! We flew our Jolly Roger with pride!
Heather was our "captain" for the day! Doesn't she look great! She played the part well!
Our Swarthy Crew helping to raise the Jolly Roger. I think the fun noodles were being used as swords!
Paris and her Jolly Roger cape!
A tragic accident for this pirate! Amazing she can still sail the high seas with TWO eye patches!

This pirate pose just made me laugh! hehehehehehehe




Talent show night! Do you love the sign? The kids designed it! They knew immediately that they did the "got's" wrong but I said I liked it!
My big brother Mike got in on the action with some card tricks! He hasn't lost his touch!
Lexi wowed us all with her skill as an artist and showed us how to draw many different animals with just one simple starting pattern.
Logan showed us his crazy mad skill of sucking in his little belly and being skinny man and getting down with his bad self on the floor!
Grayson, Helaina, Reagan and Breleigh sang and danced to "Five Pockets in my Overalls!" I LOVE Grayson's buns in this picture! He is rocking those overalls!
Paris demonstrated a form she has learned for karate class. It was also very impressive!
On an overcast morning all the kids enjoyed creating their own t shirts with fabric markers. I jus love this shot of Grayson and Reagan together. Aren't they cute?
I helped Breleigh with the back of shirt and Auntie Heather created the design for Helaina's but she colored it in! She can't seem to let go of the Tug Fest Princess thing.
The front of the shirts. Helaina's was designed by Auntie Heather and colored by Helaina. Breleigh pretty much did her own art work!
All the cousins (who were there)in birth order! Kimanh, Karen, Paris, Alexis, Logan, Grayson, Helaina, Breleigh, and Reagan
We had a celebration day! We were able to celebrate all those big and small milestones that we miss out on during the year when we are apart. Heather completed the celebration with gifts for all the kids. Breleigh loved her purple hippo pillow pet! She slept with it every night!
We had party hats and horns to blow and the kids decorated banners with all the things that we could be celebrating! It was so so much fun! Helaina was a little off her game this day. She spiked a fever a little later on.
One of the four banners that the kids made! Nana and Papa were so good to let us hang it up on the wall above the windows!
Heather even ordered a cake from the Pine River bakery so we could celebrate in style! It not only looked good but it tasted even better. Yum.
A picnic lunch while waiting for the turtle races to start! Heather had all the kids pack a bag with a fruit cup, chip of choice, and dessert. We took orders for sandwiches and placed those in labeled bags. It went very SMOOTHLY!!
A few members of our group racing their turtles. My girls weren't winners this year but it wasn't because we didn't try! (maybe one day my girls will actually touch a turtle!) Thanks to Uncle Goggy for helping me with the girls on this race.... dealing with two turtles isn't easy because even though it sounds silly.... it goes fast!
Our first winner of the day! Karen had an eye for a speedy turtle and hers managed to cross the finish line before all the others. (I think I saw her slip it some Mt. Dew before the race started) ;)
The picture above and below go together. Logan's turtle was also a winner at this years turtle races. His turtle was not thrilled with being stopped from racing and was trying to keep racing while in Logan's hands. I love Logan's face in this picture. (Ow Ow Ow)

Breleigh and Reagan are five months apart in age. They like the same toys, at the same time, of course! These two girls were just getting geared up for a fun night of tacos at the Harriet Club!
Getting ready to head to the Harriet Club for Taco Thursday!
Group 1 at the Harriet Club. A good time was had by all!
Group 2! Hmmmm..... who is missing from these pics? Oh yeah... my mom and dad! They were actually sitting at a table just to left of this picture. They sat with a couple who live on the same shore of Lake Ada. I could hear them bragging about all their grandkids the whole time!

Family Fun Weekend

We spent this past weekend in Marshall Town, Iowa for the Agan Family Reunion. (my dad's side of the family) My parents and my sister and her family were there as well. Jim had to work on Saturday so he missed out on all the fun! The picture from above was taken at Hickory Park in Ames, Iowa where we enjoyed some memories of past meals. Go ISU!
Grant, Grayson and Helaina at Hickory Park!
The rest of us at Hickory Park.... leave it to Breleigh to keep eating even while getting her picture taken. Sweet potato fries trump photos I guess!

The kids got into dancing at the dinner for the reunion! I guess Breleigh can really get down with her bad self! We will have to watch out for this one!
This is Helaina cutting a rug with her cousin Zephie!
Just another "move" that Breleigh discovered on the dance floor.
Reagan loved to dance as much as the rest! She recently danced so hard at a wedding that she got sores on her feet!
I think I forgot to rotate this picture but doesn't it look awesome! I think Grayson is going to really be able to cut a rug!
Reagan and her cousin Catie! Catie treated all these kids like they were the most special people in the world! They loved her!
Nana bought all the girls coordinating outfits for this event! I think they all look so DARLING!!!


Grayson and Helaina (one year apart in age)
Breleigh and Reagan! A lot of people think they look alike. Heather and I don't really see it... what do you think?
Two silly girls!
The cousins! Grayson is very outnumbered but he seems to handle it with style!
We like to start them out young! hehehehehehe- don't worry it was empty! Later in the evening she was helping an American Girl Doll drink from it! hehehehehehe
Dinner was a the Legion.... my dad rarely drinks but it must have sounded good that night because he enjoyed one! (only one.... wouldn't want to go over the top!)
Auntie Heather bought some finger puppets for entertainment. They were pretty fun to play with!

This was a momentous occasion for Grant. He had never enjoyed a "beverage" in an American Legion before. Cheers!

Proud to be an American

Seaman Edwards! (A.K.A. My adorable, can't possibly be old enough, remember him when he was just a tiny baby- Nick)
This Seaman gets All the cute girls!
We just can't resist a man in uniform! (seems weird to refer to my "little" nephew as a man but he is what he is!)
Siblings! Stacy and Nick Edwards (My niece and nephew)
A very proud Grandma and Papa with their grandson.
Three generations of Edwards'
The grown up generations!
(Top) Mike- Father Nick Carrie- Step Mom
(Bottom) Stacy- sister Logan- brother Lexi- sister
Nick with his parental units!
Father and Son enjoying a good laugh! (never mind that I was trying to take pictures) ;)
A REAL Navy man never forgets how important it is to show some love for his cousin!
Yup -that's me! I am one proud Auntie and I think he looked so adorable in his dress whites!
Oh gee... is anyone really surprised that I had my girls wear their sailor dresses for this big event? They were the talk of Chili's while we were eating lunch. The restaurant was crawling with men in uniform and their families!

We had a great time enjoying some quality time with family and especially with Nick. It was fun to get to hear about boot camp and see how much he has changed. We all sent him as many letters as we could and he was so gracious about receiving them! We were unable to go to the actual graduation (only a very limited number of tickets ) but I am so grateful that I was able to go and give my nephew a hug! These men and women in uniform are pretty important people! I feel so blessed to live in this country and have these awesome people keeping me safe. So, even though I have never felt the need to discriminate between any branches of the armed forces I do feel the need to end this post with.... GO NAVY!!!! (hehehehehehehehehehehehehe)

(and yes.... I was dorky enough to buy myself a sweatshirt that said..... "Navy Aunt"!

Happy Fourth of July

Breleigh is waiting for parade to start! She seemed to like every bit of it. That is, until Monkey Joe from Monkey Joe's showed up. He wasn't even on our side of the street and Breleigh desperately needed to be picked up! hehehehehehehehe
Next year Helaina will know that when the parade starts it also means the candy starts! She didn't really know that this year!
Arriving early leaves plenty of time for pictures!

We stopped at Casey's before the parade so the girls could enjoy their breakfast while we waited for the parade to start. Fun stuff!

All in all we had a great time at our FIRST parade. We made our way to Bettendorf early this morning and scored a primo spot, right in front of Mc Donalds. This worked out perfect for us since Jim is FOREVER needing to use the restroom and Breleigh is in the very beginning stages of potty training. We speculated on who would have to go first.... Jim or Breleigh? It was Breleigh! hehehehehehehe
Since this was our first parade we were pretty naive as to what would take place. (and when I say "we" I mean the girls.... of course Jim and I have attended many parades!) Helaina didn't know about all the goodies they would be passing out. I did have the foresight to bring a couple of grocery bags for the girls goodies though. Helaina lacks the aggressive gene she needs to fully reap the benefits from parades. I don't think I am actually complaining though. We were seated by a group of older children. Two boys, atleast 8-10 years old kept literally taking candy right from below her fingers and then proceeded to stand in front of the girls during the parade. I REALLY wanted to say something to them but.... I didn't! Jim probably thought I was overreacting but COME ON! (oh.... and no adult figure ever discussed with these boys that maybe they should not stand in front of other kids!) Ok... my rant is over! We had a great time at the parade and Helaina was thrilled with the candy and goodies.